Plutarch: On Contentedness of Mind
Should we be surprised that society two thousand years ago carried many of the same burdens and struggles of the human condition that we wrestle with today? Plutarch’s writing may have established him as a leading thinker during the Roman Empire, but his philosophy is no less relevant as a guide to our modern living. Throughout On Contentedness of Mind, a collection of nine essays on questions of ethics and wisdom, it’s hard to not be stuck by the approachability of Plutarch’s insight.
In this 193 page book compiled by Levenger, Plutarch gives us a guide to elements of our human nature including emotional stability, peace of mind, listening vs. speaking, and self-awareness. But as Ralph Waldo Emerson writes in the introduction, Plutarch’s popularity was found in his humanity as “a man of society, of affairs; upright, practical; a good son, husband, father, and friend – he has a taste for common life, and knows the court, the camp and the judgment hall, but also the forge, farm, kitchen and cellar, and with a wise man’s or a poet’s eye.”
In On Contentedness of Mind you’ll discover such insights as:
“If you say your enemy is uneducated, increase your own love of learning; if you call him a coward, stir up the more your own spirit and manliness.”
“Those who wish to lead a good life ought to have genuine friends or red-hot enemies; for the former deter you from what was wrong by reproof, the latter by abuse.”
“Those who have enjoyed a truly noble and royal education learn first to be silent and then to speak.”
“Turn your curiosity so as to look inwards: if you delight to study the history of evils, you have copious material at home.”
“The inclination to hurt others gets its greater strength from greater weakness.”
"Fox Theatre, Atlanta" by Michael Bryant
The Varsity, the Fox Theater, and the Majestic Diner never looked so good. These Atlanta icons and others are expressed in unique black and white photos by Georgia native Michael Bryant. He shot local landmarks using a plastic Holga toy camera thats imperfections produce a one-of-a-kind image. The camera, combined with Michael’s technique, produces bronzed, warm images. Each is printed on acid-free, cotton rag paper that will keep for one hundred years. Images are available from his website in sizes from 12″x12″ to 32″x32″ and range from $49 to $995 (unframed).
Image courtesy of Skyhorse Publishing
Phil Mickelson has taken home another green jacket, the famed pimento cheese sandwiches are gone, and Jim Nantz has moved on to his next commentating gig. The 2010 Masters may be over but Freddie & Me, a book written by the first white caddy at Augusta National, will take you back and show you a side of the course you haven’t seen. First-time author Tripp Bowden recounts his life as a young caddy at the exclusive club under his mentor, the late Freddie Bennett.
Freddie, the legendary Augusta National caddy, was loved by golf legends and greens keepers alike. Known for his charm and sincerity, he touched the lives of many during his time on the storied golf course, but possibly none more so than Tripp Bowden. Freddie, an African-American with little education and few material advantages in life, took Tripp – a white, affluent doctor’s son – under his wing on the golf course, sharing his life-learned wisdom along the way.
Plenty of books have been written about Augusta National and the fame and glory earned by its champions. But looking through the lens of an unlikely friendship, Freddie & Me provides a personal account of invaluable lessons taught between 18 holes. TrippBowden.com
1961 Ferrari 250 GT Comp./61 Short-wheelbase Berlinetta, S/N 2689. Lent by Bruce and Raylene Meyer of Beverly Hills. California © Peter Harholdt
It’s not very often you can check out sleek cars at an art gallery, but that’s precisely what’s going on at The High now through June 20.
The Allure of The Automobile is the museum’s latest exhibit featuring 18 rare, custom-built cars from the ‘30s to the ‘60s. These are some of the world’s most skillfully designed models including Bugatti, Duesenberg, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Ferrari. There’s also a 1935 Duesenberg SJ Roadster formerly owned by Clark Gable and a 1957 Jaguar XKSS Roadster owned by Steve McQueen.
The exhibition looks at the relationship between car design and the arts. It also follows the development of the motorcar, comparisons between European and American design, and how automotive styling and engineering changed after World War II.
Tickets are $18. Check the High Museum of Art for times. Tip: Thursdays are half-price between 4 and 8 p.m.
This St. Patrick’s Day some ten million glasses of Guinness will be consumed – as they are every day. Unfortunately, few of those drinkers know that the dark stout they are enjoying is not only one of the world’s most beloved beverages, but also an example and legacy of good business, philanthropy, and vision. In his new book, The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World ($16.50) Stephen Mansfield tells the fascinating true story of Arthur Guinness and how he and the Guinness family used their wealth and influence to impact millions.
Arthur Guinness, who founded the brewery in 1759, rejected excessive materialism and believed that fair treatment of workers and caring for the poor were not only moral matters, but also principles of good business. God and Guinness looks at how this man and his family’s philosophy were never just about profit and thus became not just a great product but a symbol of Irish pride.
Mansfield summarizes “The Guinness Way” of virtue and leadership with inspiring prose, teaching how we might learn from it today in both our work and our personal lives.
